Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1911 — AROUND CAMP THE FIRE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AROUND CAMP THE FIRE

STONE MASKS HERO’S GRAVE Monument Erected by Government Shows Its Appreciation of Services Rendered by Shields. To have served as senator from three states and as governor of a fourth is a distinction that has come to only one man in the history of the United States. And yet for nearly thirty years that man, Gen. James H. Shields, whose military record was even more illustrious ttihn his record as a statesman, lay in an- almost forgotten and unmarked grave. He was the first territorial governor of Oregon, he served a full term as senator fnfm Illinois, he was one of the first two senators from Minnesota and he served out an unexpired term as senator from Missouri. He went into ** the Mexican war a brigadier general and served with such distinction that his sword found ready acceptance and he was commissioned a brigadier general at the outbreak of the Civil war. General Shields Berved four states and his adopted country {he was Irish born) both faithfully and well, and doubtless had public attention been called earlier to the neglect of his grave in St. Mary’s cemetery at Carrol, Mo., congress would have been quicker to show, by a monument, its appreciation of his services. However, when Representative Rucker of Missouri Introduced a bill at the last session of congress to appropriate $3,000 for that purpose, it was quickly passed. The monument was unveiled November 12. General Shields was one of the many young Irishmen who came to America in the generation that preceded the Civil war and gave their adopted country cause to feel proud of them. He was born in County. Tyrone, December 12, 1810. About the age of sixteen young Shields emigrated to the Ufiited States and finished his education. He studied law and began practise at Kaskaskia, 111., in 1832. He rapidly achieved professional distinction and having entered politics was elected to the legislature in 1836. In 1839 he was elected state auditor and in 1843 was appointed Judge of the supreme, court of Illinois. He held the latter office two years and resigned to accept the appointment of commissioner of the general land office on Was iington. At the outbreak of the Mexican

war Shields was given a brigadier's commission and commanded, first a brigade of Illinois troops, later commanding a brigade composed of marines and New York and South Carolina volunteers. He served under Gen. Zachary Taylor, Gen. Winfield Scott and General Wool and was wounded at Cerro Gordo and in the storming of Chapuitepec. For gallantry in the latter action he was breveted a major general. General Shields was mustered out of service in 1848 and shortly afterwards was appointed the first territorial governor of Oregon. While serving in the office he was elected senator from Illinois and served out lus full term. After quitting the senate he moved to Minnesota, where he speedily became prominent in politics and, on the admission of that state, he was elected senator for the short term, serving two years, from 1887 to 1869. Quitting the senate again he went to California and engaged in mining, and was thus engaged when the Clvn war broke out. Promptly he offered hi* afford and was commissioned a brigadier general. He was In a number of the bloodiest battles, and is credited with being the only man who ever defeated Stonewall Jackson. At his own request he was relieved of his command in the army and went to California, where he remained until tbe close of the war. He then chose Missouri as bis borne, settling In Carroll county, living on a farm a few miles east of Carrollton In peaceful retirement until 1874, when he was choeen to represent the county In the legislature. In January. 1879, he was chosen by the Missouri legislature to All the unexpired term of Senator L. V. Bogy, which expired March. 1879. H« died at Ob ttunwa in 1879